Apparatus for recording transactions



June 14, 1932. J J DICKMAN 1,862,529

APPARATUS FOR RECORDING TRANSACTIONS Filed April 26. 1927 2 ShGGtS-ShGBt l June 14, 1932. J. J. DICKMAN 1,862,529

APPARATUS FOR RECORDING TRANSACTIONS Filed April 26. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jaw 9 John Doe Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES PATE' QFI JOSEPH J'. DICKMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LIBRARY EFFICIENCY CORPORATION, OF NEVV' YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR RECORDING TRANSACTIONS Application filed. April 26,

This invention relates to apparatus for recording transactions such as the borrowing of library books, and for making the desired entries on the cards retained by the borrower and the library respectively.

It is an object of this invention to eliminate many of the errors incident to the making of entries with rubber stamps and with handwriting according to the methods now in vogue, and to enable entries to be made more rapidly than is possible at present, and also to enable the necessary entries to be made by inexperienced attendants or by the borrowers themselves.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, parts of the apparatus being broken away to illustrate the construction and operation thereof.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 5.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 47-4: of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figures 6 and 7 are sections on the lines 6-6 and 7-7 of Figure at.

Figures 8 and 10 are views of the date and borrowers slugs respectively.

Figure 9 illustrates the usual form of book card which is retained by the library, and Figures 11 and 12 are back and front views respectively of a borrowers card.

According to one of the systems of recording transactions in libraries which is in wide use at the present time, a card such as illustrated in Figure 9 is placed in each book. This card carries numerals or symbols corresponding to the numerals or symbols appearing on the book itself, and usuallyvbears notations as to the authors name and the title of the book. This card is usually called the book card. The book card is retained by the library at all times, either in the book when the book is on the shelf, or in a file when the book is so t;

1927. Serial No. 186,641.

Each borrower is provided with a card known as a borrowers card such as that illustrated in Figure 12 which bears notations as to the borrowers name and address. Each borrower is assigned a number upon issuance of a card to him which is also placed on the card in the manner indicated. When issuing a book to a borrower, the attendant usually stamps the book card with a rubber stamp to indicate a date, which may be either the date when the book is borrowed or the date when the book is due depending on the particular system in use. Opposite the date the attendant writes a number corresponding to the number which appears on the borrowers card thus providing the library with a record of the borrowers identity. The borrowers card is then stamped with a date which also may be either the date when the book is borrowed or when it is due. The book card is then placed in the library file, and the borrowers card is placed in the back of the book in order that the borrower may have a notation which indicates to him a date when the book may be returned.

For purposes of convenience and description the stamping machine will now be described and then subsequently the manner in which it may be used in connection with the system just described will be set forth.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus comprises a base 1 on which may be pivotally mounted an arm 2 carrying a head 3, the said head being normally held in raised position by the spring 4 as illustrated in Figure 2. The upper surface of the base 1 is preferably substantially flat and may be provided with side flanges 5 and 5 which guide the card and assist in locating it in proper position for stamping. The base may be provided with a shallow recess 6 and with a deeper transverse recess 7 adapted to receive a moderately hard rubber platen 8 which cooperates with impression forming means located on the head 3 to cause impressions to be made on the card in the manner hereinafter described. Preferably the rubber platen is supported on a bed of felt 9 which serves to cushion the blow of the impression forming means thus making the machine substantially noiseless in operation.

In the head 3 is carried an inked ribbon 10 mounted on suitable spools having thumb turns 11 and 11 by means of which the ribbon may be wound from one spool to another as desired. The ribbon passes from the spool controlled by the thumb turn 11 across the bot-tom face of the head to the spool controled by the thumb turn 11.

One side of the head 3 is provided with a cylindrical recess 15 adapted to receive the rotatable slug holder 16 which is carried on the shaft 17 mounted in the bearing 18. The slug holder and shaft may be secured in the head 3 by means of the plate 19 which is fixed to the end of the shaft 17 by means of the screw 20.

The slug holder 16 is provided with a plurality of substantially flat faces 22, the number herein illustrated being four, each of said faces being recessed slightly to receive a date slug 23. Secured to each corner of the slug holder is a blank 24: preferably of sheet metal which extends over the slug in the recess to hold the same in position, the end flanges 25 of the blanks being sufficiently resilient to permit the slugs to be inserted and withdrawn from the holder when desired.

The slug holder may also be provided with a shaft 27 carrying the thumb turn 28 which may be provided with a plurality of faces 29 corresponding to the number of faces on the holder, which said faces 29 may be. marked with indicia to indicate to the user which particular slug is turned to impression making position at any given time. For example, the four faces herein provided may be marked 7 day, 14 day, 28 day and date. The slug holder 16 may be rotated by the thumb turn 28 to bring the slug which is attached to any face of the holder into impression making position.

The other side of the head 3, opposite the recess 15 may be provided with a frame 30 having an aperture 31 therein adapted to receive and hold a slug 32 bearing the borrowers number in impression making position substantially opposite and on a line with the slug in the slug holder 16.

Secured to the lower face of the head 3 at one end is a plate 33, preferably of sheet metal, the said plate extending forwardly from the point of attachment to protect the card from contact with the inked ribbon. The said plate is provided with a transverse slot 34, however, which registers with the platen 8 and with the impression making surfaces of the slugs to permit impressions to be made at the desired points. In order that the slug holder 16 may be turned from one position to another, the plate 33 is preferably flexible and resilient, so that it may be displaced as illustrated in Figure 2 as the holder is rotated.

The slugs which are adapted to be used with the apparatus and which are illustrated in Figures 8 and 10 are preferably formed of relatively thin sheet metal and may be pressed or punched to provide raised portions 35 in the shape of letters or numerals Which it is desired to print on the cards.

According to the proposed method of recording library transactions, each borrower would be provided with a slug similar to the slug 32 having impressed therein the numerals corresponding to his number, and for purposes of convenience the said slug may be carried in a small envelope 36 attached to the back of the borrowers card. Slugs, such as the slugs 23, impressed with dates would be provided to the library. At the beginning of each day the library attendant in charge of the machine would insert proper date slugs in the recesses provided in each of the faces of the slug holder 16. For example, in the face opposite the thumb turn face 29 which bears the notation Date, a slug bearing the present days date Would be inserted. Opposite the notation 7 day a slug would be inserted bearing a date seven days later than the present date. Similarly, opposite the notations lat day and 28 day, date slugs would be inserted bearing the proper dates. Thus it will be observed that by turning the thumb turn 28, the slug holder may be adjusted to bring the desired date into impression making position. In order to hold the slug holder in proper impression making position, the ball 40 is provided which is resiliently held in contact with the slug holder by means of the spring Al, the said spring and ball being mounted in the recess 42. Depressions as are located in each corner of the end face of the slug holder in position to register with the ball 40.

As each borrower approaches the borrowingdesk, his borrowers slug 32 is inserted in the frame 30, the slug holder 16 is rotated to the desired position, and the apparatus is then in condition to stamp both a date and a number on the book card. After stamping the card, the borrowers slug is removed from the machine, the borrowers card is inserted stamped with the date only. After the stamping operation is completed, the borrowers slug is returned to the borrower with the borrowers card.

Indicating lines 4d and 45 are provided on the base 1 in order to aid the user in placing the card to receive an impression. The card to be impressed may be laid on the base 1 in a position such that the space in which the notation is to be made lies coincidently with the indicating line 44 and within the indicating lines 45. The head may then be depressed so that the notation is made and the card may then be removed from the machine.

The cooperation of the metal slugs with the rubber platen is such as to provide clear legible impressions at all times, and with the aid of the indicating lines, the said impressions may be made rapidly and accurately in the desired position.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a platen, a head, means on said head for holding a plurality of slugs, said means being rotatable to permit said slugs to be brought selectively to position to cooperate with said platen for impression making purposes, and a plate secured to said head and extending along the bottom of said head to cover said slug holding means, said plate being flexible to permit rotation of said slug holding means, and said plate being provided with an aperture between said slug and said platen.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a platen, a head, means on said head for holding a plurality of slugs, said means being rotatable to permit said slugs to be brought selectively to position to cooperate with said platen for impression making purposes, additional means afiixed to said head for holding an additional slug in position to cooperate with said platen for im ression making purposes, and a plate secure to said head and extending along the bottom of said head to cover both said slug holding means, said plate being provided with an aperture between said slugs and said platen.

3. A hand printing stamp comprising a rotatable slug holder and a resilient plate secured adjacent the holder and bearing upon the surface thereof, said plate being provided with an aperture adapted to cooperate with a slug on the holder.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 25th day of April, 1927.

JCS. J. DICKMAN. 

